Book Review – A Thousand Splendid Suns

“In case you’re wondering whether A Thousand Splendid Suns is as good as The Kite Runner, here’s the answer: No. It’s better.”

- Washington Post on A Thousand Splendid Suns

In one line, this pretty much sums up the entire book. The story is about the lives of two women in Afghanistan, whose fates are cruelly intertwined. It speaks of the bond that forms between them, a bond despite everything that happens around them, a bond that speaks of love so pure, that can overcome obstacles without being daunted at their enormity. The story is set at the backdrop of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, then the infighting that takes place between the factious warlords, and finally the rise of the fearsome Taliban. The book is a tribute to the women of Afghanistan, their unthanked unacknowledged existence, their mute submission to the circumstances around them, and their spirit and steely resolve, that shall never falter even in the face of the toughest adversary. It speaks of the ideological divide between liberal Kabul, and the staunchly patriarchal and oppressive rural Afghanistan. It is Khaled Hosseini’s way of bringing their story out to the outside world, a heart-wrenching tale bound to move whoever reads it.

I will not give out the details of the story, but like The Kite Runner, it has its fair share of tragedies, and surprises. What is plainly evident from this book is that Khaled Hosseini is a master storyteller. He has chosen such a broad canvas for his story, that the book could easily have ended up being discursive. But his gripping narrative keeps you glued to the book. Not even a single sub-plot is without its own significance. And the best part is the level of detailing. Most authors tend to give in too much detail, letting their creative and literary juices flow freely. Hosseini on the other hand, delves in just the right amount, in a very subtly restrained manner. The detailing is just perfect, enough for you to grimace at the pain and indignation the protagonists face, yet not to squirm in your seats. And the best part is the ending. As before, the ending is tragic, but has a sense of hope that may make your eyes well up, but you end the book on a positive note. There are numerous occasions in the book when you commiserate with the women, feel their happiness and suffering, cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh. As I said after reading The Kite Runner, this book leaves you feeling oddly human again, and you cherish that feeling for long after you have kept the book down.

Which brings me to the inevitable comparison between the two of Hosseini’s books. Both the books are masterpieces in their own right, and even though they are similar in aspects more than one, you’ll be missing out on a lot if you read only one of them, thinking you got all that Khaled Hosseini has to offer. And my respect for the author multiplied manifold after this book. Writing a great book is great indeed, but following it up with another is truly a rare accomplishment. He candidly says that expectations from him had risen tremendously after the phenomenal success of his first book, and he could have chosen an easier route than the one which he did.  Yet it was important for the untold story of the women of Afghanistan to come out, and we are all very thankful to him for that.

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Tags: Afghanistan, Book Review, Khaled Hosseini, thousand splendid suns

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